Welcome to the second paper in the Russian Studies series. This issue has been written by Dr Nazrin Mehdiyeva, a specialist in Russian energy, security and foreign policy. She provides a detailed examination of Russia’s draft Energy Strategy to 2035, and argues that the draft strategy illustrates how Russian energy thinking has been undergoing an important evolution since 2014.

Her review of the draft strategy sits comfortably alongside the other papers in the series in the way it both emphasises how the Russian leadership engages in long-term strategic thinking and about how energy is one of the most important and complex elements of Russian national security thinking. Indeed, like Russia’s economic thinking more broadly, she argues that thinking about energy is characterised by its synchronisation with national security, and Russia’s geopolitical influence and sovereignty. Interestingly, she notes that the draft strategy is more in tune with Russia’s National Security Strategy.

Mehdiyeva’s review of the strategy explores Moscow’s understanding of the changing international horizon since 2014, emphasising how differently the Russian leadership sees the world compared to the Euro-Atlantic community and in so doing illuminating how they see Euro-Atlantic community’s sanctions, and how threat perceptions are driving import substitution and a drive to develop diversification of transit routes and markets. Importantly, she also notes how Moscow’s thinking about energy security is also driven by concerns about longer term, structural developments, including the role of the United States of America in international energy markets.

At the same time, Nazrin highlights the difficulties Moscow faces in developing its strategic agenda – not least the very great difficulties in accurate forecasting and the ongoing question marks over many of the basic assumptions on which such planning is dependent.

The thrust of Dr Mehdiyeva’s argument illuminates why NATO should remain keenly aware of Russian evolving energy thinking and policy, and we hope you enjoy learning more about this important subject.
Regards,